Traditional rulers in the Southwest have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 urging Nigerians to support his administration for another four years to consolidate ongoing economic reforms and development initiatives.
The monarchs explained that the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration were aimed at addressing Nigeria’s longstanding economic and structural challenges improving the welfare of citizens and creating opportunities for the younger generation.
Addressing journalists on yesterday the Director-General of the Southwest Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers Oba Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede said the continuity in leadership was necessary to ensure that the reforms introduced by President Tinubu achieved their intended objectives.
Oba Agbede who is also the Olowa of Igbara-Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State specifically reviewed the developments under the Tinubu administration and called for sustained public support for the President ahead of the 2027 general election.
The monarch explained that the Tinubu’s administration’s economic policies were necessary interventions to reposition the country noting that although some of the decisions had generated difficulties for citizens their long-term benefits should not be overlooked.
‘We declare our total support and as we approach 2027 we call on Nigerians to also support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu enabling him to consolidate the gains already made and complete the restructuring of the Nigerian state’ he said.
He also noted that the removal of fuel subsidy foreign exchange reforms the introduction of a new national minimum wage the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative and tax reforms were among the major steps taken by the administration to address the country’s economic challenges.
According to him the policies were designed to correct structural weaknesses improve government revenue encourage investment and create a more sustainable economic environment.
Oba Agbede said: ‘We recognise that reforms of this magnitude come with challenges and require patience sacrifice and collective commitment. However we remain hopeful that their benefits will increasingly be felt by Nigerians across all sectors.’
He appealed to Nigerians not to lose sight of the long-term objectives of the reforms arguing that the process of rebuilding an economy required consistency patience and collective responsibility.
The monarch said the government should be encouraged to complete the programmes it had initiated rather than have its policies disrupted by changes in political leadership.
He particularly highlighted the establishment of NELFUND as an important intervention capable of expanding access to tertiary education and reducing the financial difficulties confronting students from less privileged backgrounds.
He said the education loan scheme demonstrated the administration’s recognition of education as a critical instrument for human capital development and national progress.
According to him providing students with financial assistance would enable more young Nigerians to pursue higher education and acquire the skills required to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
Oba Agbede also identified the CNG initiative as part of efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on petrol and provide alternative energy sources capable of easing transportation costs.
He said the new minimum wage was another important step towards improving workers’ welfare while the tax reforms were expected to strengthen the country’s fiscal system and create a more efficient revenue framework.
The traditional ruler further commended the Federal Government’s infrastructure development and social investment programmes as well as efforts to improve the performance of Ministries Departments and Agencies.
He said the success of the various initiatives would depend largely on effective implementation accountability and the willingness of Nigerians to support policies directed at national development.
He added that the country needed stability and continuity to enable the government to address the challenges confronting the economy.
Oba Agbede maintained that the ongoing reforms should be assessed within the context of the challenges they were designed to address rather than through immediate difficulties alone.
He said: ‘Peace stability and continuity are essential ingredients for national development. Reforms require time to mature and the country must be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve lasting progress.’
The monarch also acknowledged the contributions of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo whom he described as prominent sons of the state making contributions to governance and national advancement.
He said their respective positions provided opportunities to attract attention and development to Ondo State urging public office holders to remain committed to the welfare of the people.
Meanwhile the Olowa used the occasion to address what he described as historical misconceptions about the origin ancestry and traditional status of Igbara-Oke insisting that the community had never been under the traditional authority of Akure.
He said it was important to set the historical record straight to protect the community’s heritage and ensure that its identity was not misrepresented.
According to him Igbara-Oke shares a historical connection with Ile-Ife which is widely regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.
The monarch declared: ‘Igbara-Oke has never been under Akure. We are among the 54 monarchs from Ile-Ife and our origin is intertwined with Ile-Ife.’
He said the community’s traditional institution had its own historical roots and identity adding that the history of Igbara-Oke should be properly documented and preserved for generations yet unborn.
Oba Agbede said historical accounts were important not only for establishing the identity of communities but also for promoting unity cultural preservation and peaceful coexistence among neighbouring towns.
He noted that misconceptions about the origin of communities could create unnecessary controversies stressing the need for traditional rulers to preserve authentic historical records and educate younger generations about their ancestry.
According to him Igbara-Oke’s relationship with Ile-Ife remained a significant part of its history and should be recognised in discussions about the traditional institutions and historical evolution of Yoruba communities.
He added that preserving the community’s heritage was part of the responsibilities of the traditional institution particularly at a time when younger generations were becoming increasingly disconnected from their cultural roots.
Earlier Prince Dupe Adetuwo Director of Media to the Olowa of Igbara-Oke said it was important that the revered monarch address issues relating to national development governance the 2027 political dispensation and the historical heritage of Igbara-Oke.
She said the palace considered public engagement important in communicating the position of the traditional institution on issues affecting the country and the community.
Adetuwo however added that the Olowa remained committed to promoting the cultural identity historical heritage and development aspirations of Igbara-Oke.
Photos: The Director-General of the Southwest Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers and Olowa of Igbara-Oke Kingdom Oba Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede addressing journalists on Saturday on behalf of the Southwest traditional rulers.